The Car That Changed My Life

Did you ever have one of those things that you never knew about and then someone let's you in on it, and then you're obsessed? Well, my Dad did that to me. My Dad always worked on people's cars, and his own. I remember, mostly because I always held the light, and couldn't stop asking him questions. Earlier this spring He bought an 88' Dodge Daytona. His reasoning for buying this car was to save gas, and it did. But this car was the beginning of my passion for muscle cars, not just a car. It also just so happens that when he bought the Daytona it was painted as a miniature General Lee, from The Dukes of Hazard. And my father, being the Dukes' fan he was, embraced the car's unorthodox coat and even ordered a custom license plate rendering: "General Jr."
Of course, the car wasn't in perfect condition and it took hours to replace the steering column and gear shifter. But all those cold hours I spent freezing in the garage, him telling me to go inside if I was cold but denying it because I was so eager to learn, were worth it. Because all those times we were under, over or in the car, I got a little closer to my dad. I once asked him how an engine worked on the way home from getting parts and I was a sponge soaking up information as he talked. I'm now familiar with how an engine runs, and how to determine what's wrong with it. I also got a new best friend, my dad. Now, wherever we go when it's warm we'll take off the t-tops and wind down the windows with the music too loud, and see how many people we can pass in 74'.
The "General" as we call it also gave me good stories to tell. Once on our maiden voyage we were flying down 74'. Now, if you've never rode in this car do not, I repeat do not mock it. So we were cruising down the road when a cop goes by, it's not very hard to miss a bright orange car with an 01 on the side so we were pulled over in a parking lot. I thought the car would get laughs from the police but he was very serious. But, because the car was newly on the road we didn't have tags he let us go with a warning but my favorite part of that story is when the police officer asked what model it was and my dad exclaimed "It's the General!" I laughed so hard after we pulled away I cried a little. And, after all the work on that car and from the past and future rides, I developed a love for Mopar.
My dad takes me with him to watch the hot rods now and I love it just as much as he does. Our car changed my life inevitably. I am so much closer to my dad now, close enough to call him a best friend. And it sparked an unofficial fan club for the car at my school, and a passion I hope to pursue one day. All because, I held the light.